Ken with a nice Steelhead caught in the Cow Pasture on the Salmon River off the Drift Boat

Todays Trip, Tips and Fond Memories:

We re-anchored the drift boat 6 times as we covered our water and worked this productive fishing lye. The fish lay along its entire length. Each time I moved the boat were into fresh un-fished waters. Fish-on! was had within a few drift's by each of my 2 client guest's aboard the Salmon River Drift Boat.

Then once the well ran dry or the fishing slooowed for 5-10 minutes, I would simply move the drift boat another boat length into some new, fresh water and fish. Within a few drift's both of my guest's would be into more fish. It worked like magic!! You too, can enjoy this same fish catching tip. It's simply called working your water.

The only way this worked was my guest's had there presentation down pat. We obviously had our rigging and habitat correct. These are the 3 most important aspect's of joining the elite group of 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish club.

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Anglers on the bank saw we were having the most action of anyone, in this one spot the drift boat was anchored in. They lined up on the trail behind us and waited patiently for me to pull anchor and leave in the drift boat. What they didn't realize is this wasn't some special HOT SPOT. The fish were laying in its entire length. We simply had acquired the necessary knowledge of working our water, habitat, rigging and most importantly, presentation. Or? maybe we just got lucky? yukyuk

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The funniest part of this day for me was listening to the comments made by other anglers fishing. Every 5 minutes or so my guest's would be playing another Salmon and I would hear one of them say loudly and excitedly, LOOK, they have another one on. Then shortly there after, LOOK, they have another one on. This went on ALL morning. Finally, they said, LOOK, they BOTH have one on. What’s that saying? Double your pleasure, double you fun?

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We were ALL new once :) - Standing where you should be fishing:

There were about 6 anglers fishing across from us. They were standing waist to chest deep in the river. They were standing where they should have been fishing. (Very common on this river and rightly so, as we were all new once. Can you old fart's reading this remember back THAT far? yukyuk)

What they didn't know, but I did, was they were actually helping US! The fish that HAD been sitting in front of them had been pushed over in front of us.

Then they stood above us and again, to far out and pushed those fish down to us. Then, I guess because they were not having much success but we were, they stood to far out below us. Once again pushing the fish up to us.

I'd like to THANK these 6 guys for standing where they should be fishing and helping to make my guiding day, an easy, very successful one.

I was new once too, and I sometimes was guilty of standing out to far.

(The above "positive effect" of others standing out to far is rare. It normally has a VERY negative effect on others qaulity of fishing experience around you, should you accidentally do it, which is covered more below :)

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Mail Bag:

The following question was asked to me by someone who had been taught the incorrect way to catch fish. He was really interested to learn the correct way to fish so he could show his children .I will always make time for anyone out there, who would like to learn how to fish for these magnificent fish. This was a great question that I find a lot of folks don’t realize, so I thought I would share it with you.

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Randy, I was up fishing on Sunday. Saw some good fish. I am having trouble getting them to take a fly. By the time I get a shot at them, they are very pressured. It doesn't make a difference what fly I have on or what size tippet I am using or what length leader I have on. Any time the fly gets anywhere near them, they dodge it. What's going on? What should I do different? Thanks for your help

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(As usual, just my opionion and yours may differ :)

Your situation is quite common. Your fish were doing what I call, "Parting like the Red Sea". They were actually telling YOU, that your rigging or presentation was off. I listen to what the fish are telling me, (Where is that medicine my doctor prescribed me for this condition ;) then adjust if needed.

 

Here's what I do.

First off, if those fish are not interested I LEAVE them and look for others. Do it ALL the time. You might have 100 Salmon in front of you, but only a few of them could be aggressive players. Some will strike and other's wont.

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1. Stay in the fast water as these fish are getting ready to blow the hole and run up. They are much more aggressive than the ones in the slow water.

2. Try to fish above or below the gauntlet's. Work the water between 2A and Pineville. Most people fish were the river is most easily accessible or where they see the most cars parked. Stay away from those areas. What most people don’t realize is if they simple walk a short ways they will escape the crowds and pressured fish, on even the busiest weekends.

3. Pd test is determined by speed, clarity of water, species of fish, fishing pressure, fresh or educated fish.

4. Use the bright flies at dawn and dusk. Chartreuse, pink. If you find fish that have not seen any pressure then go bright.

5. Fast water go shorter leaders and heavier Pd. test as all the white water disguises the leader and weight that they will see in the slow water. Anytime you can disguise what your fly, bait or lure is tied too, any species of fish, fresh or saltwater, anywhere in the world, you will increase your odds.

6. Slow water, go longer tippet-leader and lighter Pd. test. (4 foot max. from fly to weight) - (check regs for special reg's area's) To put more distance between weight and main line as they can see much better in the slow water. Then they will concentrate only on your fly or bait. And not spook off your main line and weight. Speed and depth of water determine length of leader. (4 foot max. from fly to weight) - (check regs for special reg's area's)

7. Try to keep as much distance from the fish as possible as they are a little smarter than most folks give them credit. Distance also allows them to feel safe and comfortable and not so pressured. They are much more likely to stay longer, giving you more shots.

8. Presentation is everything. I find the Kings the least aggressive so putting it in their face is best. Whether you are swinging it with a sink tip, floating line or dead drifting (drift fishing). Everyday, when site fishing is possible we find some fish that no matter how many times you present the fly to them or how many times you change the pattern of the fly, they simple are not interested. These fish are left. Why waist your valuable fishing time :)

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Hope this helps, if not e-mail me to discuss further. I’m glad you’re taking the time to learn how to do it right! I'm always more than happy to help anyone who wants to learn how to fish.

Happy Hookin;

Randy

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Randy,

Your technique description is excellent. One point that I do not see explained is how to wade. Point #7 touches on this, but it needs more clarification on wading. Nothing bums me out more than seeing a guy standing in the run. I know the ( ----- run ) like the inside of my pocket. I snorkel it and clean it during the summer. The greatest depth is 4.5 feet for a brief moment and the rest averages 3-3.5 feet. This is true for much of the Salmon River. If an angler is up to his hips, he is in too far. The fish hold on either side of the fast water.

An angler should work the inside first and then fish his way across the river. If he moves into the water to far he will spook the fish on his inside of the run. If someone is across from him and they move out to far, the gauntlet effect takes place. The fish just zip through the run. If everyone is staying back, the fish take their time. They rest in the hole. Everyone catches fish.

I would love to see you do more writing on the wading subject. A few weeks ago the area by the island below the --- pool was so disorganized that it was unfishable. Guys were out to their waist, literally in the run. When I fish this area, I'm normally very close to the island or on the ridge above the first shoot. There are other things like crossing the river. It is dangerous and the best place is usually the tail of the pool, but you should not cross through someone's drift. If you feel it is the only place to cross, ask the opposing angler.

Thanks

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You are absolutely correct and I couldn’t have said it better.

I wanted to write something about this earlier as I can see people standing way out in the run above ---. Those fish either turn around in the early season or blow by them. It also happens in -- hole, if someone stands in the lane that 80% of the fish travel, they spook and don't sit in the tail. Then the lucky people in the middle get them. I m always supper polite, and ask them if they realize how the hole works. If they say no, (which is obvious because of were they’re standing) I try to sincerely educate and help them understand how transitional fish relate to structure and current. Ill then make a suggestion as to were it would be better to stand so THEY will have a better chance to catch fish as well as everyone around them. It works every time. Most folks who obviously are new, are excited to get a helping hand .I’m not concerned in the least, if this is the only hole that this person knows and will be there from now on. The hole can only fit so many folks comfortably and if that person is there then that’s great! At least they wont be standing where they should be fishing and everyone can catch some fish. :)

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Another funny guide story about standing where you should be fishing. Rarely a days go by when I am drifting down the river in the drift boat and see this. What’s funny is when the angler is standing waist deep in the water, exactly where the fish would normally be at and then casting and fishing into 2 inch's of water. Where there has not been a fish in 100 years. :)

The worst part about this?

Its when you are fishing across from these anglers and they dont realize that THEY are hurting your fishing opportunities. Several times I've had this happen to me while Im guiding and its hurt my guest's fishing opportunity. No biggy. I would like to think that these anglers are simply new. Like we ALL were once. I'll start a lil polite and professional chat with them and ask if I might offer them a suggestion that would help THEM to catch more fish. This has always been met with a polite and excited YES! I explain the hole, where the fish lay or travel and that if they back up they should have a fish on shortly. It works like magic and then everyone catches fish! I dont care if this is the only hole they know well and that they will be fishing next to me for the next few days. At least they well not be standing where they should be fishing, so we all can enjoy this amazing fishery. Fish on... Baby!!.

Done